Fabio Wardley continued his remarkable ascent through the heavyweight ranks on Saturday night, stopping Joseph Parker in the 11th round at London’s O2 Arena to capture an interim title and earn the WBO’s mandatory challenger position. The victory capped off a stunning journey for the 30-year-old from Ipswich, who began his boxing career in white-collar bouts before turning professional just eight years ago.
Wardley made his intentions clear in the aftermath, calling out Oleksandr Usyk, the reigning undisputed heavyweight champion. “I’ve got one thing – and one thing only – to say,” he told the DAZN crowd, chanting: “Usyk! Usyk!” While Wardley’s new status technically positions him as Usyk’s next challenger, it remains uncertain whether the Ukrainian will entertain the fight given his focus on major, high-reward bouts in the twilight of his career.
Watch Wardley vs. Parker post-fight interview: Watch
Reflecting on the win, Wardley praised Parker’s toughness but credited his own resilience and belief. “For what I lack in experience, I make up for in chin, heart and determination,” he said. “I told everyone I wasn’t losing today and that belt will be mine. I did everything I said I would do.” Wardley also showed respect for Parker, acknowledging the New Zealander’s willingness to take the fight. “He deserves all the respect from the boxing community. We had to pick our spots and eventually got him out of there.”
The Ipswich fighter reserved special thanks for Dillian Whyte, who first spotted his potential and guided him toward professional success. “I would still be lost in small halls without him,” Wardley said. “He picked me out of the rough and changed my life.”
Wardley closed the night with a nod to his passionate supporters. “This is boxing, not football – but they are my 12th man on the pitch,” he said. “They’re the extra fire that got Joe out of there. I couldn’t have done this without them.”
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